U.S. patent application number 11/845002 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-26 for electronic card arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Novatel Wireless, Inc.. Invention is credited to Bob Hertlein, Clint Wilber.
Application Number | 20090053920 11/845002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40382599 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090053920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilber; Clint ; et
al. |
February 26, 2009 |
ELECTRONIC CARD ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
An electronic device includes a connector for interfacing with a
host device and an electronic card receiving portion. The
electronic card receiving portion is configured to inhibit physical
removal of an electronic card therein when the connector is
interfaced with the host device.
Inventors: |
Wilber; Clint; (San Diego,
CA) ; Hertlein; Bob; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
P.O. BOX 80278
SAN DIEGO
CA
92138-0278
US
|
Assignee: |
Novatel Wireless, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40382599 |
Appl. No.: |
11/845002 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/159 ;
439/296 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/718 20130101;
H01R 13/6397 20130101; H01R 2201/02 20130101; H01R 13/633
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/159 ;
439/296 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/62 20060101
H01R013/62 |
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising: a connector for interfacing
with a host device; and an electronic card receiving portion,
wherein the electronic card receiving portion is part of a housing,
and wherein the electronic card receiving portion is configured to
inhibit physical removal of an electronic card therein when the
connector is interfaced with the host device.
2. (canceled)
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed
of molded plastic or plastic extruded on or attached to a
metal.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is an insert secured within the housing.
5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the insert is formed
of an amorphous alloy.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the card receiving
portion is formed of an amorphous alloy.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion includes tracks along which the electronic card
can be inserted or removed.
8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein electronic card
receiving portion includes a card ejection slot adapted to
facilitate removal of the electronic card.
9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector is a
universal serial bus (USB) connector.
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is positioned such that an electronic card
inserted therein is positioned above or below the USB
connector.
11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is positioned such that an electronic card
inserted therein is positioned in proximity of the USB
connector.
12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is adapted to receive a subscriber identity
module (SIM) card.
13. A modem device, comprising: a universal serial bus (USB)
connector for interfacing with a host device; and an electronic
card receiving portion, wherein the electronic card receiving
portion is part of a housing, and wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is configured to inhibit physical removal of an
electronic card therein when the USB connector is interfaced with
the host device.
14. The modem device of claim 13, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion includes tracks along which the electronic card
can be inserted or removed.
15. The modem device of claim 13, wherein electronic card receiving
portion includes a card ejection slot adapted to facilitate removal
of the electronic card.
16. The modem device of claim 13, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is positioned such that an electronic card
inserted therein is positioned above or below the USB
connector.
17. The modem device of claim 13, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is positioned such that an electronic card
inserted therein is positioned in proximity of the USB
connector.
18. The modem device of claim 13, wherein the electronic card
receiving portion is adapted to receive a subscriber identity
module (SIM) card.
19. A modem system, comprising: a universal serial bus (USB)
connector for interfacing with a host device; an electronic card
receiving portion; and an electronic card removably positioned
within the electronic card receiving portion, wherein the
electronic card receiving portion is part of a housing, and wherein
the electronic card receiving portion is configured to inhibit
physical removal of the electronic card therein when the USB
connector is interfaced with the host device.
20. The modem system of claim 19, wherein the electronic card is a
subscriber identity module (SIM) card.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices
adapted to have removable electronic cards inserted therein.
[0002] Many communication devices, such as cellular telephones and
wireless modems, are provided with an electronic card which may
include data or software. Typically, such electronic cards may
include identification information for identifying the device or
the user to a network or another device. For example, many such
devices include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.
[0003] In many devices, this electronic card is removable. However,
inadvertent removal of the card can cause many difficulties. For
example, if a SIM card is removed from a wireless modem on a
personal computer, the personal computer may require rebooting or
reconfiguring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one aspect of the invention, an electronic device
includes a connector for interfacing with a host device and an
electronic card receiving portion. The electronic card receiving
portion is configured to inhibit physical removal of an electronic
card therein when the connector is interfaced with the host
device.
[0005] In one embodiment, the electronic card receiving portion is
part of a housing. The housing may be formed of molded plastic or
plastic extruded on or attached to a metal. The electronic card
receiving portion may be an insert secured within the housing. The
insert may be formed of an amorphous alloy.
[0006] In one embodiment, the electronic card receiving portion
includes tracks along which the electronic card can be inserted or
removed.
[0007] In one embodiment, the electronic card receiving portion
includes a card ejection slot adapted to facilitate removal of the
electronic card.
[0008] The connector may be a universal serial bus (USB) connector.
The electronic card receiving portion is positioned such that an
electronic card inserted therein is positioned above or below the
USB connector.
[0009] In one embodiment, the electronic card receiving portion is
adapted to receive a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, a modem device includes
a universal serial bus (USB) connector for interfacing with a host
device and an electronic card receiving portion. The electronic
card receiving portion is configured to inhibit physical removal of
an electronic card therein when the USB connector is interfaced
with the host device.
[0011] In another aspect, the invention relates to a modem system.
The system includes a universal serial bus (USB) connector for
interfacing with a host device, an electronic card receiving
portion, and an electronic card removably positioned within the
electronic card receiving portion. The electronic card receiving
portion is configured to inhibit physical removal of the electronic
card therein when the USB connector is interfaced with the host
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary electronic
device according to an embodiment of the present invention with an
electronic card partially inserted;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the upper
housing of the exemplary electronic device with an electronic card
partially inserted;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary electronic
device with the upper housing shown as a wireframe with an
electronic card partially inserted;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary electronic
device with an electronic card completely inserted;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the upper
housing of the exemplary electronic device with an electronic card
completely inserted; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary electronic
device with the upper housing shown as a wireframe with an
electronic card completely inserted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device according to an
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The electronic
device 100 may be any type of electronic device with electronic
components therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic
device 100 is a modem device adapted to provide wireless
communication.
[0019] The electronic device 100 includes an upper housing 110
inside which the various components of the electronic device 100
may be secured. For example, electronic components necessary for
the operation of the modem device, such as printed circuit boards
with power centers, processors and antennas, may be secured within
the upper housing 110. The upper housing 110 may be made of a
variety of materials. In one embodiment, the upper housing 110 is
formed of molded plastic or plastic extruded on or attached to a
metal, such as an amorphous alloy (e.g., Liquidmetal.RTM.).
[0020] The upper housing 110 is provided with two sets of openings
112, 114. The first set of openings 112 is adapted to provide
ventilation for the electronic device 100. In this regard, the
ventilation may be passive. Additionally, a second set of openings
114 is provided to facilitate configuration (or reconfiguration) of
the electronic device. For example, the set of openings 114 may be
opening for Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) pins. The set of
openings 114 may allow for configuration of the modem device for
specific uses, for example.
[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device 100 is
provided with a connector 120 for interfacing the electronic device
100 with another device (not shown), such as a host device. In this
regard, a host device may be any of a variety of devices, including
communication devices. For example, in the case of wireless modem
device, the electronic device 100 may be interfaced with a host
device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal
digital assistant or the like. In this regard, when interfaced with
a host device, the electronic device 100 provides wireless
communication capability to allow the host device to communicate
with, for example, a network such as a wireless local area network
(WLAN), a cellular network or another device. In the illustrated
embodiment, the connector 120 is a universal serial bus (USB)
connector.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic card 130, such as a
subscriber identity module (SIM) card, partially inserted into the
electronic device 100. As described in greater detail below, the
electronic card 130 is accommodated by the electronic device 100 in
an electronic card receiving portion. A card ejection slot 116 is
formed on the electronic card receiving portion and/or the upper
housing 110 to facilitate removal of the electronic card 130. In
this regard, when removal is desired, a user may insert an object,
such as a pin, pen or pencil, and push an edge of the electronic
card 130 such that the electronic card 130 is ejected from the
electronic device 100.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, the inside of the upper housing 110
of the electronic device 110 is illustrated with the electronic
card 130 partially inserted. In the illustrated embodiment, the
upper housing 110 is provided with an electronic card receiving
portion 113. The electronic card receiving portion 113 may be
formed integrally with the upper housing 113 or, as illustrated in
FIG. 2, may be formed as an insert which is secured to the inner
surface 111 of the upper housing 113. In this regard, the
electronic card receiving portion 113 may be an insert made of any
material. In one embodiment, the insert is formed of a metal. In
order to reduce costs associated with machining of metal, the
insert may be formed of an amorphous alloy, such as
Liquidmetal.RTM., through the use of a mold.
[0024] In order to facilitate insertion and ejection of the
electronic card 130 into or out of the electronic card receiving
portion 113, the electronic card receiving portion 113 may be
provided with tracks 115 formed on the outer edges. In this regard,
the edges of the electronic card 130 may slide on the tracks 115
for proper insertion and ejection.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the
electronic device 100 is illustrated with the upper housing shown
as a wireframe. Again, the electronic card 130 is shown as
partially inserted. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the electronic device
100 may include numerous electronic components 140 for proper
operation of the electronic device 100. Further, the electronic
device 110 includes conductive contacts 150 adapted to engage
corresponding contacts (not shown) on the electronic card 130 when
the electronic card 130 is completely inserted into the electronic
card receiving portion 113. Thus, when the electronic card 130 is
completely inserted, information stored on the electronic card 130
may be accessed by the electronic device 100 through the conductive
contacts 150.
[0026] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the views of FIGS. 1-3, respectively,
of the electronic device 100 with the electronic card 130
completely inserted into the electronic card receiving portion 113.
In the illustrated configuration, the electronic card receiving
portion 113 is positioned such that the electronic card 130
inserted therein is positioned above the USB connector. In other
embodiments, the electronic card receiving portion 113 may be
positioned such that the electronic card 130 inserted therein is
positioned below the USB connector. Further embodiments may
position the electronic card receiving portion 113 such that the
electronic card 130 is in another configuration in proximity of the
USB connector.
[0027] When the electronic device 100 is to be connected to a host
device (not shown), the connector 120 is interfaced with the host
device by insertion of the connector 120 into a corresponding port
of the host device. Thus, when the connector 120 is interfaced with
the host device, physical removal of the electronic card in the
electronic card receiving portion is inhibited. In this regard,
when the connector 120, such as a USB connector, is inserted into a
corresponding port, such as a USB port, movement of the electronic
card 130 is restricted by the physical structure of the host
device.
[0028] When removal of the electronic card 130 is desired, the user
must first disengage the electronic device 100 from the host
device. The user may then eject the electronic card 130 from the
electronic card receiving portion 113 by inserting an object into
the card ejection slot 116 and urging the electronic card 130
outward.
[0029] Thus, by requiring disengagement of the electronic device
100 from the host device, accidental or inadvertent removal of the
electronic card 130 is avoided.
[0030] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may
be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the
present invention and its practical application to enable one
skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.
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